How to Determine a Reliable International Shipping Partner?

Canada has plenty of online businesses, and the numbers are continuously increasing in years. As an emerging small business in the eCommerce industry or not, delivery is essential to keep up with your customers' demands - more so when you expand your business internationally. Offering fast, efficient, and cheap international shipping can be your selling point to overseas clients. 

Customers expect excellent shipping service regardless of location, so finding the most suitable shipping partner is crucial. Your chosen international shipping partner will be the one to deliver your products to your customers, and if they are not reliable enough, your business is somehow at stake. 

However, what factors should we consider before choosing our shipping partner? How to know whether it can provide excellent international shipping or not? How to determine a reliable international shipping partner? What is the best way to ship internationally? We listed nine (9) factors you can include on your checklist in choosing the perfect shipping partner for you.

1. Cost-Effective

Purchasing something overseas is expensive because you need to pay for the actual item, plus the shipping fee. Although customers already expect this upon buying, it would still be helpful to provide them with an affordable international shipping fee. Promoting that you have the "cheapest international shipping" attracts people's attention because it is another way to save money, and who wouldn't want that? 

Stallion Express is the best shipping company in Canada that offers the best shipping solution with the most competitive shipping rates. With Stallion's affordable rates, you can also cover the costs on some occasions for promos and other giveaway activities. 

Their international shipping rates, the best price for international shipping, can help you or your customer save up to 85% compared to a national carrier and a standard courier. You can check the shipping calculator on the website to see the shipping cost you need to pay during the shipment.

2. Hassle-Free

The tedious and time-consuming shipping process is a big turn-off, not if you have the luxury of time. However, it would help to consider the technicalities when creating a shipping account with them. How hard is it to ship the parcel with them? Find out the company's process so that you can see if their methods align with your needs.

Stallion Express guarantees a hassle-free transaction to all of your shipments. You can follow these four quick and easy steps:

1. If you still don't have a Stallion Express account, you need to make one first before getting all the perks. Once signed up, print the label and pay for the shipment using your Stallion account. 
2. Once done, you can either drop off your package at any branch location across Ontario or arrange for pick-up.
3. You only need to track your package from here as Stallion will work the rest. They will clear customs at the border and send the package to their shipment partner, *PostNL and APC Logistics.
4. Our shipment partners will hand your packages to local post authorities in your country's destination and deliver them to your customer.

Stallion made it easy for the shippers to make the shipments. 

3. Quick Delivery

Aside from the products they will receive, many customers base their ratings on how fast items arrive at their doorstep. It can quickly improve customer satisfaction with a quicker delivery time. Some customers are willing to pay more for a rapid ETA. As the seller, you have to seek ways to meet this expectation. Finding a shipping provider that can guarantee a short delivery time can help you achieve a high customer satisfaction rate. 

Stallion Express has the *fastest delivery time compared to the competitors and standard international shipping. Although it depends on what postage you choose, you can expect to receive your items within four (4) to twenty-one (21) days. 

*Note: Due to the pandemic, you might experience some shipping and delivery delays as the Department of Health imposes strict regulations to help contain the virus. Furthermore, some countries have other shipping regulations that our shipment partners must follow.

4. Easy Customer Return Policy

Returns can be inconvenient for you as it costs time and money. However, Stallion Express provides an easy *return policy from Canada and the US. You can fulfill the returns following three steps: Input, Request, and Pick-up.

Input: You need to provide your importer number from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Request: Go to your Stallion Express account > Returns page and request for a return.

Pick-up: You can pick up the item at any branch location.

The fees vary for both Canada and US return shipments. 

*Note: The return policy does not apply to international shipments due to the different regulations from each destination country. Furthermore, they can be costly. 

5. Good Reputation

As your shipping partner also low-key represents your brand, you need to find someone with a good reputation in the shipping industry. They are seen as providing value, and most customers want that. It can also result in customers' loyalty to your brand. 

Furthermore, a positive image can also attract better people, so it can also make or break your reputation. Find someone who shares the same values in providing quality customer service. 

Stallion Express has been around for more than half a decade, and the reviews from its users are tremendously good! They built an excellent relationship with their customers. So far, they have created a stress-free shipping environment for numerous online entrepreneurs across Canada. 

6. Reliable Customer Service 

International customers need constant updates as their parcels are coming overseas. Your updates, together with the tracking, are their only way to know the situation of their orders. Finding a shipping company that has excellent customer service can lessen the stress. 

Stallion Express guarantees friendly and reliable customer service to all its clients regarding customer services. Furthermore, we provide many options to contact us. You can check the list below:

• We have live client support you can talk to from Mondays to Friday, 10 am - 6 pm ET. 
• You can also message us anytime on our website. 
• You can also check our LinkedIn and Facebook accounts to see other information about Stallion Express. 

7. User-Friendly Interface

A user-friendly interface helps customers fulfill their needs quickly and efficiently, reducing their time to navigate the system. Additionally, not all customers are tech-savvy, so providing a website easy to understand and access would give you additional cookie points.

Stallion Express doesn't want you to encounter any problems while using your Stallion account, so we hired the best IT experts to ensure that all the site is functional and easy to navigate. Plus, you can track your package anywhere you are using your account.

8. Shipping Options

Providing many international shipping options allow customers to choose the most convenient way to ship their orders to them. It also means you want to cater to your customers anywhere they are in the world. Stallion partnered with two well-established shipping companies to help us deliver your package safe and secured. We are currently partnered with APC Postal Logistics, USPS International, and *PostNL. 

Regardless of what international shipping services it is, you can expect we would find ways to accommodate you.

*Note: PostNL is only available across Ontario.

9. Insurance Policy

Sometimes, accidents happen during shipments- a lost parcel, damaged household goods, etc. We don't want to scare you, but things like this happen despite all of the preventive measures (although it rarely happens). A shipping carrier that can insure and protect your shipments is what you need.

Stallion Express offers *Stallion Protection that has:

1. It has the fastest turnaround time in the industry.
2. It has hassle-free online processing claims.
3. It has complete protection coverage for your declared value, including risks of physical damage due to external causes while in transit.
4. It provides flat-rate pricing, regardless of your package's destination. You can check the website to know the prices for each Package Protection Program. 

Note: The policy only applies to parcels with postage printed through Stallion Express. You can also visit our Support Page to get further details about the insurance policy.

Keynote: We understand how challenging it is to find the most suitable shipping company. So, if you will ask what is the best way to ship internationally, why don't you give Stallion Express a try? A reliable international shipping company offering the best price for international shipping will help you grow your business worldwide, and Stallion has proven to provide customers with their global shipping needs. Check out our website to know more about our company and our services.

Pramod Bhat